Thursday, 21 June 2012

Subtle Brain Injuries Expose Veterans to Risk of PTSD

Extremely mild brain injuries that occur
during combat can often expose veterans to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These brain injuries are so mild, that they can only be
detected through an ultrasensitive imaging test.

According to a new study that has been
conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center, veterans who have
suffered these injuries do not always lose consciousness. In fact, the researchers believe that
such subtle brain injuries can occur even without loss of consciousness. However, these injuries, even though
subtle, have been linked to symptoms of post-traumatic
stress disorder among veterans.

The researchers asked each veteran in the
study about his PTSD symptoms of, as well as his exposure to blasts, and mild
concussions. In addition, the
researchers measured the level of combat stress in each veteran by questioning
them about the intensity of their duties during deployment, and severe combat
experiences like blasts and vehicle accidents

The researchers found that out of the 52
veterans in the study, 30 had suffered at least one mild traumatic brain
injury, and 60% of the veterans had been exposed to multiple blasts. All 52 veterans in the study showed
symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Out of these, 15 met the formal criteria for PTSD. The presence of PTSD symptoms was
directly proportional to the amount of injury to the neurons.

California veteran benefits’ lawyers believe
that the results of the study will be helpful in differentiating between
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injury, especially when it
comes to symptoms that are very similar in both of these conditions.

The US Department Of
Veterans Affairs funded the study, and the results of the study have been
published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.